Valve grinding machines



July 10, 1962 M. H. HUMBERT 3,043,058

VALVE GRINDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'United States Patent 0h ice` 3,043,058 Patented July 10, 1962 3,043,958 VALVE GRINDENG MAC Marvin H. Humbert, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Cedar Rapids Engineering Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of iowa Filed Aug. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 832,313 1 Claim. (Cl. 51A-95) This invention concerns a valve grinding machine and more particularly one in which the grinding wheel rotates in a horizontal plane and the work piece is lowered vertically into contact with the wheel.

In valve grinding machines of the type commonly used in automotive service` shops, the grinding wheel rotates in a vertical plane and the work 4piece is moved horizontally into contact with the grinding wheel. The various required adjusting movements are made in the horizontal plane.

In such devices, the vertical grinding wheel is usually positioned towards the back of'the machine and the motor, which rotates the chuck holding the work piece, is positioned up towards the front of the machine. This necessarily places the operator at a distance from the actual work area and his view of the work being done is in this way restricted to some extent and, in addition, he is in the p lane of rotation of the grinding wheel and exposed to some danger by reason of chips or flying particles that may be thrown outwardly from the wheel.

Therefore the primary object of this invention is to provide a device in which the grinding wheel is positioned in a horizontal plane well below eye level to permit the work piece to be brought vertically downward into contact with the grinding wheel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device in which the work piece may also be swung in a horizontal arc into contact with the grinding wheel.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device in which the work piece may be swung in a vertical arc in relation to the grinding wheel.

lt is yet another object of this invention to provide a device in which a second work piece holding fixture may be employed to swing the work piece in a horizontal plane to bring it into contact with the upper surface of the grinding wheel.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device in which a plurality of work piece fixtures may be positioned on a single base to permit the work piece to be brought into contact with a single grinding Wheel in a plurality of positions to permit the grinding `of several faces of the work piece as may be required.

Other and further featuures and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departd ing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a device constructed according to my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view, in part, of the l device to show the means whereby the motor driven chuck mechanism may be raised and lowered in relation to the grinding wheel.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the motor driven chuck assembly.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the auxiliary valve holding xture which is provided to facilitate the grinding of the ends of the valve, and

yFIGURE 5 is a partial view of the device showing the attachment which positions the rocker arm in relation to the grinding wheel.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1; a valve grinding machine constructed accordiug to my invention includes a plurality of major assemblies which I will now describe.

A base member 11 includes a raised inner island portion 12 which is provided to house a motor driven grinding wheel 13, the wheel being positioned on its upper face and also to house the lower end of the chuck assembly supporting post which is indicated at 14. This post extends downwardly into the interior of the island base portion and can be rotated in a horizontal plane by a control wheel 15. The mechanism for the rotation of this post and the movement of the other assemblies Will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The post 14' carries a large sleeve assembly 16 which in turn carries a motor driven chuck assembly, indicated generally at 17. This sleeve member is adapted to be moved vertically on the post by the rotation of a control lever assembly, indicated at 1S. The chuck assembly is also mounted on the sleeve by means of a st-ub shaft 39 in a manner which permits it to be rotated in relation to the shaft in a vertical plane and locked in a selected position by the rotation of the threaded clamp and lever, indicated at 19.

A second valve holding xture 20 is also mounted on the same island portion 12 on the side opposite to the post 14. This second `fixture is provided to hold the valve in a vertical position in relation to the grinding wheel.

To permit a better understanding of the device, I will rst describe the function of the several elements and then the individual structure of each assembly.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the chuck 21 holds the stem of the valve `at an angle of approximately 45 degrees in relation 4to the horizontal. it will be recalled that the grinding wheel is positioned in a horizontal plane. It will also be understood that this angle can be varied in either direction from the 45 degree mark in order to vary the angle of the valve face, as shown at 22, in relation to the vertical. It will be understood that this face is ground by the vertical face V2,3 of the grinding wheel.

The chuck 21 and 'the valve 24- held therein is rotated by an electric motor 25. The grinding Wheel 13 is rrotated at a high speed by a motor 2.7 which is positioned internally of the island 'base portion 12. In order to secure an even grinding operation, it is desirable to move the valve face continuously up and down in relation to the face of the grinding wheel. This action need not be closely controlled. Therefore it may be done manually. It is for this purpose that ythe sleeve 16 is adapted to vertical movement on the post 14. The operator can keep this sleeve in continuous up and down motion by rocking the control handle 18. In practice, the operator determines the proper angle of the valve 'face and adjusts the power driven chuck assembly by rotating the assembly on the sleeve 16, referring to the index `31S and 36 until it indicates the Vdesired angle. He then brings the chuck and valve `downwardly in relation to the grinding wheel until the valve face is in the same plane as the wheel. As has been previously described, the post 14 is adapted to rotate about its vertical axis. Therefore, the valve can then be moved vin a horizontal arc into contactY with the vertical face of the grinding wheel. The previously described control wheel 15 permits the operator to bring the valve into contact with the grinding wheel and to move it quickly away from the Wheel as soon as itis apparent to him, by the appearance of the valve and the cessation of sparking, that the grinding operation has been` completed.

Turning now to the second valve holding fixture this fixture is adapted to hold the valve in a vertical position to permit the stem to =be ground. The valve 24 is clamped in this fixture with the stem extending downwardly with the lower end in a parallel plane inV relation tothe upper surface 26 of the grinding wheel. The iixture then may -be -swung inwardly to a point where the valve stem-'isv in line with the upper face of the grinding Wheel. Once the valve is swung over the wheel, the lower end will then be ground. i

A third iixture, indicated generally `at 57, is mountedV on the sleeve 16 and adapted gto hold a rocker arm in position to be Vground by the wheel 13. This structure is shown in Adetail in FIGURE 5. The structure comprises the slotted arm 57V which carries on its outer end 4-a collar and shaft v59 and locking screw 6i). The rocker varm 58 is positioned on the shaft and collar 59, the arm 57 moved to la position whereby the outer end of the rocker arm is over the `grinding wheel. By the movement of the sleeve vertically and movement of Ithe rocker arm-in an larc about the collar and shaft 59, the rocker arm can be slightly rotated to facilitate the grinding of the boss on the rocker arm. Y o

Turning now to the structure of the individual assembhes, as previously set forth, the post 14 is positioned in the island portion of the base andextends downwardly through this portion to the lowermost extremity of the base section. At this point the post is mounted on the thrust bearing 29 to permit its free rotation. Also positioned on this post is a gear 30 which in turn meshes with the Vworm gear 28 which in turn is rotated by the control handle 1S. This permits the rotation of this post va pull 3,60 degrees, -although such `action is not norrnallyrequired for the operation of the device. However, it' does permit easy accessibility for repairs and adjustment. The post also includes a gear rack 31. This in turn is meshed with `a circular gear 32 which in turn is mounted on a shaft 33 which in turn'is a part of the sleeve assembly 16 and is controlled by the handle 18. It is this gear yand rack assembly which permits the sleeve to .be-moved vertically in relation to the post.

The sleeve 16 carries a face plateV 34. The power driven chuck assembly 17 is mounted on this face plate. iIt will be noted that the face plate alsov carries a calibrated scale 35which corresponds to a similar -scale 36 on the face plate 37 of the `chuck assembly.r The chuck assembly is pivoted on the-sleeve and adaptedY to rotate?.

in relation to the face plate 34 of the sleeve 16. This chuck assembly comprises a base portion 38 which includes the previously mentioned face plate 37'. A-single horizontal shaft 39, -asshown in FIGURE 3, serves as the pivotal connection-'between the sleeve and the chuck assembly. This base Yassembly 38 'alsoA includes'a pair of electrical switches 39aand 40 which are `actuated by the control handle 41. These switches control the chuck motor 2S; y Y g |In thisconnectionV itwill be' noted, by reference to FIGURE 3, that the shaft 42a to which the handle 41l is connected has vone ilat face 44 which, when rotated in .relation Ytothe toggleswitch handle 43, will cause theVV switchesto be thrown back and Iforth to start or stop the' motor.

i The second valve holding iixture is mounted on the islandv portion-of the base by means of a tubular bracket 45 which carries the lower Vencl of a post 46. `Mounted on this postis the vise assembly 47 which includes two jaws 48` andv49`, the'jaw 49 being controlled by 'a -screw 50 `and wheel 56. This vise assembly is adapted to be moved up and down in relation to the post 46.v

Since thejxture Z0 is provided to enable the operatorto grind thebase of a valve stem, Y'it isnecessary thatthis valve stem be positioned in relation `to the upper v horizontal face of thegrindingwheel 2,6 to secure la minimum removalofV metal. In order to secure the proper alignment, a gauge 52 isprovided. `This gauge Y is a threaded screw mounted on therisland portion 12 at flexibility of control can be exercised over the grinding ace-.3,058

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one side of the grinding wheel. The operator turns this gauge until :the upper surface is slightly below Ithe level of the top face of the grinding wheel. The fixture 20 is then `swung in an are until the jaws 48 yand 29 of the vise lare just `above the top surface of the gauge 52. The valve stem is then inserted with the base portion down until it comes into contact with the gauge 52. The vise is then tightened and the valve is in proper position. Thexture is then swung over the grinding wheel and as it contact the upper surface of the wheel, the grinding operation begins.

The lixture 20 also carries an upwardly extending shaft 27a on which is positioned a support member 27b. This support member is `adapted to hold the valve head 22 when it is positioned in the vise 47. This support member can be moved up and down on the shaft 27a and once the proper position of the valve has been fixed in reference to the Igrinding wheel by use of the gauge 52, the'support member can be adjusted at a point where successive valves of the same size will be held in proper positionV relative to Vthe wheel.

In the grinding operation it is necessary that a cutting oil or coolant be used. This fluid is directed onto the grinding surface by a tube 54 which arches up over the wheel. The oil is carried in -a Sump area 58 which is a cavity between the base 11 and the island 12. A pump 5S mounted in thisY cavity draws the oil'out of the sump `and forces it through the tube 54. This pump is driven by an electric motor. Y

Since ythere are three separate motors in the device, it is necessar'yV that one central switch `be provided to control all three motors, and this is mounted in the base section 11 as `indicated by the numeral 53. The switches 39a and 40 are in series with this primary switch 53 and control only the chuck motor 2S.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a valve positioned in thekchuck 21 can be moved in a vertical rectilinear `path or swung in a vertical are above the grinding wheel or swung in a Ahorizontal :arc about the vertical axis of the post, and in this manner -a complete operation. Itwill also be apparent that this grinding operation takes place at a point immediately in front of and below'the eye level of the operator and can be readily observed at yall times. f

It will Yfurther be apparent that the secondary fixture can be moved vertically in relation to the grinding Wheel and also it can be swung in a horizontal arc in the same plane as the grinding wheel :and that thereby a secondary grinding operation can lbe `carried out in the same work area.

Although I have describedr a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be-made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may Y'be made without departingfrom the spirit j ldriven chuck assembly'having a second vertical face adjustably mounted on'said rst Vvertical face, said chuck assembly adapted to receive an object to be ground, a

rack and pinion assembly onjsaid sleeveand s aid post for moving `said sleeve and chuck assembly -in a ver-tical rectilinear path, means forswing'ing said chuck assembly in a vertical arc for aligning a surfacev ofpsaid object with said vertical grinding surface, scale"l means on said irst' and second vertical faces for indicatingV the relationship between the surface of said object to be ground and said Vertical grinding surface, gear means for manually :rotating said chuck assembly about the Vertical axis of said post in a horizontal arc which passes through the center of said grinding Wheel, whereby the surface of said object may be brought into contact with said vertical gnding surface, and a slotted arm pivotally mounted on the lower Iportion of said sleeve, said erm yadapted to secure va rocker iarm in a generally horizontal position with its push-rod engaging end in contact with the upper horizontal Surface of said grinding Wheel, whereby vertical reciprocating movement of said sleeve on said post rocks said push-rod engaging end on said grinding wheel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS `Okey Mar. 8, 1921 Criner Oct. 8, 1931 Earl May 9, 1933 Steber July 4, 1933 Gagne Nov. 8, 1938 Bigelow I-an. 3, 1939 Goddu `lune 16, 1942 Preston Aug. 12, 1952 Dick Apr. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 8, 1947 

